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We conclude with I Cor. 15: 57, 58:
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the
work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."
No.15.
Bereavement.
pp. 210 - 212
"The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away;
blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1: 21).
When our Lord walked this earth, He showed His love, concern and compassion for
mankind. There are a number of remarkable examples, but two come quickly to mind
when we think of bereavement. Let us look at them.
The widow of Nain. It is recorded in Luke 7: 11-17 that as Jesus approached the
city of Nain, there was a funeral possession, for the only son of a widow had died and
was being buried. Many people were expressing their sympathy by attending the funeral.
The Lord saw the distress and sorrow of the widow and He had compassion on her. He
went up to the widow and said "Weep not". At that stage, the procession halted, and
Christ went towards the bier. The Lord Jesus gave an order, "Young man, I say to you,
Arise". He who had been dead sat up, and began to speak.
The raising of Lazarus. The second example is even more strange. It is one of the
eight signs recorded in the Gospel of John. There were two sisters, Martha and Mary,
who had a brother named Lazarus, and Jesus Christ often visited them, for He loved all
three. Lazarus fell seriously ill so the sisters sent a message to Jesus Christ. "Lord,
behold, he whom thou lovest is sick". Our Lord knew how ill he was, and that he would
died within a few days but He did not hurry. He intended to raise him from the dead. In
John 11: 4, 15 and 42 we have reasons for the delay. It was for the glory of God. It was
to be an experience for the disciples so that they might believe. It was to be a proof that
Jesus Christ was sent by the Father.
So when Jesus and the disciples arrived, Lazarus had been dead four days. The scene
was one of great mourning and sadness, and our Lord was full of compassion and
sympathy. He was deeply touched by the tears shed by Mary. Also the Jews were
weeping.
Jesus groaned in the spirit and was troubled. Jesus wept (John 11: 35), "See, how He
loved him", said the Jews.